Letter: Opposes legislation addressing home foreclosures

Bad pennies have a propensity for reappearing all too frequently. One very bad penny, the New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act, Bill A470, has again made an appearance.

The bill is an attempt at social engineering at its worst. The intent of the bill is to allow the state to purchase all homes that remain in foreclosure for more than a few weeks and to install individuals into these foreclosed units. It effectively frees the banks of their "bad debt" properties and places the burden of support on communities whose taxes are among the highest in the nation. It has the potential to destroy communities by not providing adequate support for individuals before they are established into the community, and there is no language that says individuals will have any specific voice in where they are placed.

We do not need broad-based legislation requiring all neighborhoods to place what was private property into the hands of government bureaucrats thereby allowing banks to clear their books of foreclosed property. We cannot be assured that government will always act wisely, nor does it always act with the best interests of the responsible, tax-paying citizens of the state. States have funded high-rise housing in the past with disastrous results to the quality of life of its neighborhoods. History tells us that government initiatives such as this one are not always sound solutions to complex social problems.

The Governor has already vetoed a bill similar to this one. It is clear that the politicians are not giving up and want to impose their views on unsuspecting citizens. One of these politicians, our District 27 Democratic Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (office phone number: 973-762-1886), is a co-sponsor of this legislation. Perhaps Ms. Jasey should be reminded that our funds for community resources are limited and that trained social workers, not government officials, are better able to assess and provide assistance to individuals with needs, without directly interfering in the social fabric of the community as a whole.

It is government's role to support, not take over community planning. Our tax money should enhance the safety net that is there for all in the community who may need it, not pay for legislative initiatives that have been previously discarded as unwise. Our communities should be welcoming environments and able to support services for all newcomers. This legislation does not provide adequate funding for that purpose.

Judith D. Eisner

385 Old Short Hills Road

Editor's note: The writer is an Essex County Republican Committeewoman, Voting District 12.